Dec. 3, 2007 | Michael Copps doesn't want to be called a crusader. But as one of the two Democrats on the five-member Federal Communications Commission, he's not shy about sounding biblical. He says he's "blowing a loud trumpet" for a "call to battle" to stop the FCC from giving big media a generous Christmas present.

Copps is trying to defeat FCC chairman Kevin J. Martin's last-minute proposal to loosen media ownership rules, which will be voted on by Dec. 18. As it stands now, a company can't own both a daily newspaper and a broadcast outlet -- a radio or TV station -- in the same market without a waiver. In an Op-Ed piece in the New York Times on Nov. 13, Martin wrote that media companies in the 20 largest markets should be allowed to own both in the same market to bolster journalism. "If we don't act to improve the health of the ... industry," he wrote, "we will see newspapers wither and die ... and have fewer outlets for the expression of independent thinking and diversity of viewpoints."

The public, however, won't have much time to express its own diverse viewpoints on Martin's proposed rules. He unveiled his plan in the Times four days after the FCC's sixth, and last, hearing of the year on media ownership. The public has only until Dec. 11 to comment on the new rules, with the FCC voting on them within the following week.

The public took this plum away once, we can do it again--but only if we write! Time to get out those pens and paper. December 11 is very close. Sorry I don't have a link to send emails to to post, does someone else have one?

Senator Byron Dorgan today said his committee had a unanimous vote to stop this FCC attempt until the people had a chance to comment. He said there were six comment meetings but that the actual rules being processed didn't show up until after those six meetings had taken place. His comment was that it isn't fair to propose new rules in November and have the vote on them in December.

Believe it or not the FCC used to be have a FAIRNESS DOCTRINE, which required TV and radio to present issues of public importance in an accurate, thorough, and equitable manner. There were rules, which specifically protected groups and individuals from personal attacks and rules requiring equal time for opposing political viewpoints.

This FAIRNESS DOCTRINE was originally adopted in 1949 as a counter-measure against the rise of global fascism. It remained in effect until 1987 when it was eliminated during the Reagan administration. Congress immediately voted to restore the doctrine, but President Regan vetoed the legislation. He single-handedly killed the doctrine and thus laid the groundwork for a media with no checks and balances whatsoever.

Within a few months of Regan's action, Rush Limbaugh got his first nationally syndicated radio show (1988). George H.W. Bush became President the following year. Still, in 1991, Congress attempted to restore the FAIRNESS DOCTRINE once again. This time around, George H.W. Bush snuffed the FAIRNESS DOCTRINE with the threat of a Presidential veto.

Limbaugh and company took this as a mandate to continue doing the Lord's Work. They did it rather well, but they really shifted into overdrive after Bush lost the Presidency to Clinton. Subsequently, in the 1994 mid-term elections, the Republicans took control of the House and Senate, the state legislatures and governorships.

The "Republican Revolution" was at its zenith when the Fox 'News' Channel went on the air in 1996. The FAIRNESS DOCTRINE was officially dead to the world and, in its absence, right wing media outlets have flourished profusely. More 'centrist', mainstream media have followed suit, and are continually listing further and further rightward.

Now for the GOOD NEWS: The 2007 Democratic Congress is currently working to restore the FAIRNESS DOCTRINE. The legislation is supported by: Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT); along with Representatives Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), and Louise Slaughter (D-NY).